Control of doors or gates for mining and other purposes



INVENTORS C hflde, 6nd

L. B. CHILDE ET AL Filed Oct.

CONTROL OF DOORS OR GATES FOR MINING AND OTHER PURPOSES oct. 14, 1930.

Patented Oct. 14, 1930` UNITED STATES PATENT osi-*lice LESLIE B. CHILDE AND ARTHUR G. KERSHAW, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS, RY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS," TO THE UNION SWITCI-Ic SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONTROL OF :DOORSYOR GATESFOR MINING AND OTHER PRPOSS Application inea oetoberio, 1927, serial No Our invention relates to the control of doors or gates for mining and other purposes in which two or more doors or gates are required to be manually controlled from a distant point, and particularly although not eX- clusively to the control of the entrance and exit doors of air locks in collieries. In such cases the point of control is usually situated adjacent to one or other of the doors or gates and while the operator is in a vposition to observe that the proper number of tubs or trucks have passed through the door or gate near to him, he cannot, in most cases, be assured from observation that the tubs or trucks are clear of the more remote door or doors before effecting the closure of' these.

The invention accordingly has for its object to provide arrangements whereby the closure of a door or gate distant from the point of control is automatically prevented unless the passageof tubs or trucks through the door or gate has been completed and the latter is consequently free to be closed without risk or damage. y

According to the invention this result is attained by providing arrangements for superseding the action of the control valve at the point of control as regards the closing action of' each of the doorsor gates remote from the point of control in such a manner as to permit this closing action only under conditions in whichthe door or gate is free to be closed. i

The invention is illustrated by way of eX- ample in the accompanying drawing, the single ligure of which is a diagrammatic view illustrating the invention as applied to the entrance and exit doors of a collieryrair` lock, these doors being arranged to be opened and closed by fluid under pressure.

Referring now to Vthe drawing, the entrance door of the air lock is indicated at 1, and the exit door at 2, the point of control being on the outer side of the door 1 and adj acent thereto. rlhe door 1 is provided with operating mechanism comprisingv a cylinder 3, to which fiuid under pressureis supplied to effect the opening of the door, the release of fluid under pressure from the cylinder 3 per# 0 mitting the door to close underV the actionof 225,106, and in Great Britain March 8, 1927.

gravity. The door 2 is provided with a similar operating cylinder 4L, a control valve 5 being arranged on the outer side of the door 1 at the point of control. The door 1 is provided with an interlocking device 6 adapted when the door 1 is closed to maintain an interlocking valve 7 in the position shown, the' door 2 being provided with a similar device 8 adapted to operate an interlocking valveV 9. On the outer side of the eXit door 2 and adjacent thereto is an axle-counter 10 of any suitable type adapted in the position shown `to maintain a restraining valve 11 in such a po`- sition as to establish communication between a pipe 12 and an exhaust outlet 13. When, however, a predetermined numberof tubs or trucks have passed over the axle-counter 10 they latter is arranged to reverse the restraining valve 11 so as to establishcommunication between a supply pipe 14 leading to a source of fluid under pressure and the pipe 12. K

Trie control valve 5 is adapted to be set into any one of three operative positions'the valve being of any7 suitable construction adapted when the handle 15 of the valve is in its mid'- dle position, as shown, to establish communication between pipes 16 and 17 and theatmos#` phere. When, however, the handle 15 ofthe valve 5 is moved towards the right, fluid pressure is arranged to be supplied from a supply pipe18 to the pipe 17, the movement Vof the valve handle towards the left similarlyfestablishing communication between4 the pipe 18 vand the pipe 16. Y The pipe 16,*as`shown, leads to the interlocking valve 9 for `the" door 2, communication being established through this valve when the door 2'is` closed between the pipe 16 and a pipe 19 leading tothe operating cylinder 3 of the door 1f.l Whenghowever, the door 2 is opened, the interlocking valve 9 is reversed, and communication is established between the pipe 19 and anexhaust outlet 20.

The pipe 17 leads to a'check valve 21 adapted alternatively to establish` communication between the pipe 17 and a pipe 22 leading to the interlocking valve 7 of the door 1, or between this latter pipe and the- 'pipe 12 leading to the restraining valve 11.A The interlocking valve 7 when the door V*1 is closed establishes communication between the pipe 22 and a pipe 23 leading to the operating cylinder 4 of the door 2, While When the door 1 is opened communication is established between the pipe 23 and an exhaust outlet 24.

The operation of the arrangements above described is as follows:

Vith the control valve handle 15 in the position shovvn in the drawing` the doors 1 and 2 are both closed, the operating cylinder 3 being open to atmosphere through the pipe 19, the interlocking valve 9, pipe 16 and th control valve 5, the operating cylinder 4 being sin'iilarly open to atmosphere through the pipe 23, the check valve 21, pipe 12 and the restraining valve 11.

'Vhen it is desired to admit a number of tubs or trucks into the air lock the door 1 is opened by moving the handle 15 of the control valve towards the left, thereby supplying fluid under pressure from the pipe 18 through the pipe 1G, the interlocking valve 9 (providing the door 2 is :tully closed) and the pipe 19. The opening of the door 1 will evidently reverse the position of the interlocking valve 7 so that so long as this door is open the operating cylinder 4 ot the door 2 is in communication with the atmosphere through the pipe 23 and the exhaust outlet 24 of the interlocking valve 7. The door 2 consequently cannot be opened until the door 1 has been fully reclosed. As soon as the tubs or trucks have passed into the air lock the operator will return the handle 15 of the control valve 5 to its middle position, thereby effecting the reclosing of the door 1 by venting the fiuid under pressure in the operating cylinder 3 through the pipes 19 and 16 to the atmosphere at the control valve 5. The door 1 having been fully reclosed, the door 2 may be opened by moving the control valve handle 15 to its right-hand position in which fluid under pressure is supplied from the pipe 1S to the pipe 17, reversing the position of the check valve 21, the fluid thus passing through the pipe 22, the interlocking valve 7 and the pipe 23 to the operating cylinder 4.

The door 2 being opened, the tubs or trucks in the air lock pass out through the door 2 over the axle-counter 10, and the action of the rst tub or truck in thus passing over the axle-counter reverses the position of the restraining valve 11, with the result that communication is established between the pipe 14 and the pipe 12, fluid under pressure being thus supplied through the pipe 12, the check valve 21, the pipe 22, the interlocking valve 7 and pipe 23 to the operating cylinder 4 of the door 2. lt will be observed that the supply of fluid under pressure to the cylinder 4 as above described is independent of the supply of iuid under pressure to this cylinder through the pipe 17 leading to the control valve 5, so that even if the handle 15 is returned by the operator to its middle position, thereby cutting ofi the supply of fluid under pressure to the pipe 17, the operating cylinder 4 Will still be supplied with fluid under pressure by Way ot the pipes 12, and 23. Regardless o'f any action by the operator, therefore, the door 2 Will be maintained open until a predetermined number of tubs or trucks have passed over the axlecounter 10 corresponding to the number originally contained in the air lock, and when this predetermined number orn vehicles has passed the restraining valve 11 yWill be restored to the position shown With the resultI that the pipe 12 is in communication with the exhaust outlet 13. ln these circumstances, that is to say after the tubs or trucks contained in the air loclr have passed over the axle-counter 10 and are fully clear ot' the door 2, the operator by moving the control valve handle 15 to the position shown can effect the release of fluid under pressure from the cylinder 4 by Way of pipes 23, 22 and 17. Had the operator restored the handle 15 to its middle position before the predetermined number of tubs or trucks had passed the counter 10, the operation of this counter by the last of such tubs or trucks Would automatically cause door 2 to close due to the exhaust of air from cylinder 4 through pipe 23, valve 7, pipe 22, valve 2l, pipe 12, valve 11, and pipe 13.

lt will be observed that the action oi the control valve 5 to effect the release of fluid under pressure from the operating cylinder 4 to permit the door 2 to close is thus rcstrained or prevented until the predetermined number of tubs or trucks have passed over the axle-counter 10 and are clear of the door.

The invention is evidently not limited to the particular arrangements above described and illustrated which may be varied in many respects Without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having noW particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, We declare that What We claim is- 1. ln combination, a mine door, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through the door, a manually operable device, and means for controlling said door jointly by said device and by said axle counter.

2. In combination, a mine door, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through the door, manually operable means tor controlling said door, and means controlled b v said axle counter for preventing said door from closing While vehicles are passing through the door.

3. In combination, a mine door biased by gravity to the closed position, a vfluid 1,)ressure motor for opening said door, manuallyv cperable means for supplying fluid 'pressure to lll said motor, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through said door, and auxiliary means controlled by said axle counter for supplying uid pressure to said motor.

t. In combination, a mine door biased by gravity to the closed position, a fluid pressure motor for opening said door, manually operable means for supplying fluid pressure to said motor, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through said door, and means controlled by said axle counter for supplying fluid pressure to said motor While vehicles are passing through said door if the supply from said manually operable means ceases.

5. In combination, a mine door biased by gravity to the closed position, a fluid pressure motor for opening said door, a pipe 22 normally connected With said motor, a pipe 17, manually operable means for connecting pipe 17 With atmosphere or With a source of fluid pressure, a pipe 12 normally connected with atmosphere, means operated by vehicles passing through said door for connecting pipe 12 With a source of fluid pressure, and a check valve associated with pipes 22, 17, and 12 for connecting pipe 22 With pipe 17 When pipe 17 is supplied with fluid pressure but for connecting pipe 22 With pipe 12 When pipe 17 is connected with atmosphere and pipe 12 is supplied With fluid pressure.

6. In combination, a mine door biased by gravity to the closed position, a fluid pressure motor for opening said door, a pipe 22 normally connected with said motor, a pipe 17, manually operable means for connecting pipe 17 vvith atmosphere or with a source of fluid pressure, a pipe 12 normally `connected vvith atmosphere, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through said door, means controlled by said axle counter Jfor disconnecting pipe 12 from atmosphere and connecting it With a source of fluid pressure While a predetermined number of vehicles are passi ing through the door, and a check valve associated with pipes 22, 17, and 12 for connecting pipe 22 With pipe 17 when pipe 17 is sup` plied With fluid pressure but for connecting pipe 22 With pipe 12 When pipe 17 is connected With atmosphere and pipe 12 is supplied With fluid pressure. Y

7. In combination, a mine door biased by gravity to the closed position, a fluid pressure motor for opening said door, manually operable means for supplying fluid pressure to said motor, an axle counter operated by vehicles passing through said door, a valve having a normal position wherein it does not influence said motor, means operating When said valve is in its reversed position for supplying fluid pressure to said motor independently of said manually operable means, and Y means operated by said counter for revers ing said valve When a vehicle passes through said door and restoring it to normal position each biased by gravity to the closed position after the passage of a predetermined number of vehicles.

8. A mine air lock comprising tWo doors 7 a fluid pressure motor for opening each door, manually operable means for supplying fluid pressure to one or the other of said motors, and means for preventing the supply of fluid pressure to the motor for one doorunless the other door is closed.

9. A mine air lock comprising two doors each biased by gravity to the closed position, a motor for opening each door, manually operable means for supplying operating energy to one or the other of said motors, and means for preventing the supply of operating en ergy to the motor for one door unless the other door is closed.

10. A mine air lock comprising tivo doors Vfor connecting the motor for the other door With its associated supply pipe or with atmosphere according as the valve is in its normal or its reverse position, and manually operable means for supplying fluid pressure to one or the other of said supply pipes.

11. A mine air lock comprising an entrance door and an exit door, manually operable means for controlling said doors, means for preventing either door from opening unless the Vother door is closed, and meansoperating vvhen the second door has been opened and a train of vehicles has started to pass therethrough to prevent such door from closing until a predetermined number of vehicles have passed.

In testimony Whereof We aflix oui` signatures.

LESLIE B. CI-IILDE. ARTHUR G. KERSHAW. 

